A digital nonlinear piezoelectric tuned vibration absorber

This study presents the practical realization of a digital vibration absorber that, owing to the flexibility provided by the digital unit, synthesizes linear and nonlinear shunt circuits. The absorber, composed of a microprocessor and a current source, is connected to the host structure with piezoelectric patches. The performance of both circuits is compared experimentally for a nonlinear host structure. The superiority of a properly-tuned nonlinear absorber over its linear counterpart is validated, but the limits of the nonlinear absorber are also explored. Moreover, the accuracy of the tuning procedure and formulas is assessed through experimental parametric studies.